Sambazon

Sambazon, Inc.
Industry	Food products, Drinks
Founded	2000; 24 years ago
Products	Acai pulp; acai juice;
Website	http://sambazon.com

Sambazon, Inc. is a privately held American company based in San Clemente, California and founded in 2000. The company makes and sells açaí-based food and beverages.^[1] Its açaì-based smoothies, juices, and other Sambazon smoothies are sold in packages.

History

Sambazon was founded in 2000 by Ryan Black, Edmund Nichols and Jeremy Black, following a trip to Brazil where they experienced their first açaí bowls.^[2] Credited for introducing açaí to the US, the company started by selling frozen açaí pulp to juice bars in southern California, but now has distribution networks across the US, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Mexico and Canada. ^[3] ^[4] In 2005, Sambazon built its own açaí manufacturing plant in Brazil, establishing an organic, vertically-integrated supply chain for the berries.^[5]

Litigation

The Brazil Federal Public Ministry (MPF) in Amapá accused Sambazon and its CEO for exploiting the genetic heritage of açaí without the authorization of the Management and Genetic Heritage Council (Cgen).^[6] Judicially, the MPF issued a fine of more than R $ 70 million in compensation for material damages to the environment and collective moral damages. The MPF also ordered the company to stop using Brazilian açaí in its products until it obtained regular registration with Cgen.^[7]

Sustainability

Sambazon operates as a triple bottom line business (whereby success is measured economically, socially and environmentally), and has worked closely with local and international NGOs, including The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, Peabiru Institute, Amapa and Para State Federal Universities and more, to preserve the Amazon rainforest, ensure that their açaí berries are sustainably harvested, and that farmers are paid fair wages.^[8]

Sambazon also founded the Sustainable Amazon Partnership (SAP) “to promote lasting sustainable management of the Brazilian Amazon, while improving the conditions of indigenous people through creative marketing of the açaí fruit,” and works to encourage environmental stewardship, stimulate biodiverse agro-forestry systems, and provide alternatives to logging, cattle, soy, and monoculture plantations through the project.^[9]

Awards

Sambazon is the recipient of several awards, including SELF 2013 Healthy Food Awards; Women’s Health 125 Best Packaged Food Awards 2012; BevNET Best of 2012 Award: Best Smoothie; InterBev: Best Organic Beverage Award 2012; SHAPE Snack Awards 2011; and the United States Secretary of State’s 2006 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) – Small-Medium Business Category.^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15]

Notes

^ McCuan, Jess (October 1, 2008) “Passions: Ryan Black, CEO of Sambazon” Inc.
^ Fuller, David (February 2013) “Thanks to Sambazon, Açaí Berries Benefit Consumers and Growers” Costco Connection.
^ “Sambazon: Making trees in the rainforest ‘too valuable to cut down’” Retrieved 1 January 2014. opic.gov.
^ Shilander, Jim (March 21, 2013) “San Clemente’s Own Brand of Superfood” San Clemente Times.
^ Watson, Elaine (January 3, 2013) “Sambazon and the Genesis of an Amazonian Super Food Empire” Food Navigator-USA.
^ "Brazil probes California firm for 'biopiracy' of tropical fruit açaí". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
^ Boadle, Anthony (2018-06-13). "Brazil investigates American firm for 'biopiracy' of açai". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
^ Tischner, Ursula. “Case Studies in Sustainable Consumption and Production: Food and Agriculture” (Greenleaf Publishing, 2010) Pg 165-170
^ Cheeseman, Gina-Marie (December 1, 2010) “How Sustainability is Embedded in Sambazon” The Guardian.
^ Baker, Allison “Healthy Food Awards: Drinks” Retrieved 21 October 2013. SELF Magazine.
^ Staff (September 7, 2012) “125 Best Packaged Foods” Women’s Health.
^ “BevNET.com's Best of 2012” Retrieved 28 October 2013. BevNet.
^ Bill, Bruce (October 2012) "InterBev Awards 2012 Finalists and Winners Announced” FoodBev.com. Retrieved November 11, 2013
^ VanBuskirk, Maggie (July 25, 2013) “Snack Awards 2011: The 20 Best Low-Calorie Snacks” Archived 2015-01-13 at the Wayback Machine SHAPE Magazine.
^ (November 8, 2006) “Sambazon Named Winner of The Secretary of State's 2006 Award for Corporate Excellence” NewHope360.

[1] McCuan, Jess (October 1, 2008) “Passions: Ryan Black, CEO of Sambazon” Inc.

[2] Fuller, David (February 2013) “Thanks to Sambazon, Açaí Berries Benefit Consumers and Growers” Costco Connection.

[3] “Sambazon: Making trees in the rainforest ‘too valuable to cut down’” Retrieved 1 January 2014. opic.gov.

[4] Shilander, Jim (March 21, 2013) “San Clemente’s Own Brand of Superfood” San Clemente Times.

[5] Watson, Elaine (January 3, 2013) “Sambazon and the Genesis of an Amazonian Super Food Empire” Food Navigator-USA.

[6] "Brazil probes California firm for 'biopiracy' of tropical fruit açaí". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-04-13.

[7] Boadle, Anthony (2018-06-13). "Brazil investigates American firm for 'biopiracy' of açai". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-04-13.

[8] Tischner, Ursula. “Case Studies in Sustainable Consumption and Production: Food and Agriculture” (Greenleaf Publishing, 2010) Pg 165-170

[Guardian-9] Cheeseman, Gina-Marie (December 1, 2010) “How Sustainability is Embedded in Sambazon” The Guardian.

[10] Baker, Allison “Healthy Food Awards: Drinks” Retrieved 21 October 2013. SELF Magazine.

[11] Staff (September 7, 2012) “125 Best Packaged Foods” Women’s Health.

[12] “BevNET.com's Best of 2012” Retrieved 28 October 2013. BevNet.

[13] Bill, Bruce (October 2012) "InterBev Awards 2012 Finalists and Winners Announced” FoodBev.com. Retrieved November 11, 2013

[14] VanBuskirk, Maggie (July 25, 2013) “Snack Awards 2011: The 20 Best Low-Calorie Snacks” Archived 2015-01-13 at the Wayback Machine SHAPE Magazine.

[15] (November 8, 2006) “Sambazon Named Winner of The Secretary of State's 2006 Award for Corporate Excellence” NewHope360.

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